Incubator.



0. W. ZIMMBR.

INGUBATOE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1909 Patented Mal '7, 1911."

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

- C. W. ZIMMER.

INOUBATOR.

AYPLIOATION FILED AUG. 31, 1909.

Patented Mar.7,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

cc., WASHINGTON, v. c.

ET t iei% l d? CYRUS W. ZIMMER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

INC'UBATOB.

eeaaaa.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Crane W. ZIMMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incubators, ofwhich the following is a specification, ref erence being had to theaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in incubators and its object is toprovide one in which the actual conditions obtained in the operation ofhatching eggs artificially will receive the same conditions as given tothem by the hen in natural incubation.

ll ith this object in view, the invention consists briefly in a heatingtank having curved walls, to conform to the curvature of the whereby thelatter will. be heated by contact, such curved surfaces of the heatingtank being so arranged and the so supported on trays with large enduppermost on inclined supports that all eggs of various sizes will bebrought in contact with the tank and will receive the heat from the topor upper portion of the egg where the germ is naturally buoyed up.

The invention further consists in the novel combination and arrangementof parts and in the details of construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my incubator; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a verticalcross section taken on the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 2;Fig. 4- is a perspective view of the water tank; Fig. 5 is a similarview of one of the egg trays; Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the traysupports or brackets; Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of theupright end members or supports for the tank; and Fig. 8 is a detailcross sectional view through a modified form of water tank.

The invention comprises a tank or receptacle 1 for the routing fluidwhich is preferably water. Said tank has two or more of its wallsprovided with curved surfaces 2 having substantially the curvature of anegg so that eggs supported against such surfaces will be heated bydirect contact. Said curved surfaces 2 are also so arranged that theywill contact the egg at or adjacent to its top where the germ isnaturally buoyed up. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing thetank is of substantially triangular shape in cross section with its apexpointed Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 81, 1809.

Patented Mar. Y, rear,

Serial No. 515,-25.

downwardly and its two upwardly and outwardly inclined side walls curvedtransversely to form the curved contact surfaces 2. hen the tank is thusconstructed it is supported in a horizontal position and the aresuitably supported on opposite sides of it against the surfaces 2. Whenthe tank is made in the shape shown it resembles the breast or bodyportion of a hen and with the eggs supported as described they will havea natural position in contact with the tank and with the large end ofeggs uppermost.

It will be understood that the tank may be of other shape or form, forexample i have shown in F 8 of the drawing the tank 1 provided withcurved contact surfaces :2 arranged above similar contact surfaces 2"which latter correspond tothe surfaces 2 in the tank 1. By multiplyingthe curved contact surfaces in this manner the capacity of the incubatormay be made as large as desired.

The tank 1 may be heated in any suitable manner but 1 preferably employan oil lamp 3 arranged beneath an upright heat flue or pipe a whichextends through the center of the tank. From the portion of the pipe 4within the tank project substantially horizontal branch pipes 5 whichcan tend in opposite directions longitudinally through the water in thetank and have their projecting outer ends open, as clearly shown in Fig.2. The vertical time or pipe l has its open upper end controlled bydamper 6, which in turn may be controlled and operated by any kind oftemperature regulator. The temperature regulating device illustratedcomprises a thermostatic wafer '7 supported in the water in the tank bya bracket 8 depending from a removable cap 9 arranged over an opening inthe top of the tank. The wafer 7 actuates a pin 10 which is slidable inthe cap and in con tact with an adjusting screw 11 carried by a weightedlever 12 which latter has a damper 6 connected to one of its ends. Thehorizontal branch pipes '5 are preferably upwardly and outwardlyinclined and the bottom of the tank is, preferably similarlyconstructed, that is, the lowest point of the bottom is at its centerwhere the flue 4: is located, This construction insures a circulation ofwater in the tank, and hence an even temperature throughout the tank,because as the water is heated in the central portion of the tank itrises to the top and then gradually works back to the bottom and theninwardly along the latter to the center of the tank. The tank isprovided with a thermometer 13 the bulb of which is arranged in thewater in the tank so that the exacttemperature of the water which isheating the eggs may be ascertained.

While the tank may be supported in any suitable manner sheet metaluprights 15 are preferably provided, the upper portions of said uprightsforming the end walls of the tank 1 and having the fines or pipes 5extending through them, These uprights or supporting legs 15 when madeof sheet metal have their upright side edges folded inwardly as shown at16 to reinforce and strengthen them and their bottom edges are bent atright angles to provide flanges 17 for a similar purpose. The flanges 17also serve as attaching flanges and may be apertured to receive screwsor similar fastenings whereby the device may be fastened to a shelf orother support on which latter the lamp 3 also rests. The uprights or legmembers 15 are connected by a horizontal plate 18 which latter forms ashelf and has arranged upon it supports or brackets 19 for egg trays 20.The shelf 18 has a central opening to receive the lower portion of theflue 1. Four of the trays 90 are provided, two being on each side of thedevice a between the flue 4 and the uprights 15 and said trays aresupported in a downwardly and inwardly inclined position so that all ofthe eggs upon them will be brought into contact with the curved sides ofthe water tank no matter what size or shape the eggs may be. Thisfeature of the invention is a valuable one and may be attained in otherways than by the use of trays such as illustrated. The trays aresupported in downwardly and inwardly inclined position on the inclinedupper edges of the brackets or supports 19 each of which latter isformed from a single piece of sheet metal arranged transversely on thetop of the shelf 18 and having V-shaped upper edges and flanged bottomedges adapted to rest upon said shelf. Four of the brackets 19 are provided so that the trays will be supported adj acent their ends as shown.

My preferred means for protecting the eggs from drafts and securingproper ventilation is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and comprises fourslidable covers 21 which have porous portions to permit of the passageof air through them. Each of the slides 21 is preferably formed fromsheet metal and is of rectangular shape its open central portion beingcovered by permeable sheathings 22 of thin cloth or fabric havingbetween them a layer of feathers 23. The top and bottom edges of eachslide 21 are bent upon themselves to provide channeled ways or grooves2a, 25. The upper ways 24 receive guide strips 26 secured to the sideedges of the top of the water tank while the lower grooved ways 25receive guide flanges 27 formed by bending the side edges of the shelf18. The four slides or covers 21 are applied and removed from the endsof the device as will be readily understood.

IVhile I have described in detail the preferred form of porousprotecting and ventilating cover for the eggs I wish it understood thatany other means of accomplishing this purpose may be employed.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings it is thought that the construction, operation and advantagesof the invention will be readily understood without more extendedexplanation.

IVhile I have shown and described in detail the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, I do not wish to be limited to the construction set forthsince changes in the form, proportion and arrangement of parts, and inthe details of construction may be made within the spirit and scope ofmy invention.

If desired I may interposebetween the eggs and the surface of the watertank a fabric sheet of wool or other suitable material. I have indicatedthis cloth or tabric by the numeral 28 in Fig. 8, but it will beunderstood that it may be used on the tank shown in Fig. 4 if desired.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is:

1. In an incubator, the combination of a heated tank having a rigid,concave wall conforming to the curvature of an egg and disposed in adownwardly inclined position, and an egg supporting means arranged inconverging relation with respect to the concave wall of the tank,whereby the egg will gravitate toward the tank and its upper portionwill contact with the curved surface of the tank.

2. In an incubator, the combination of a heated tank having a rigid,concave wall curved to conform to the curvature of an egg and disposedin a downwardly inclined position, and a downwardly inclined flat eggsupport arranged adjacent to the curved wall of the tank and inconverging relation therewith, whereby the egg will gravitate toward thetank and be supported with its upper portion in contact with the curvedsurface of the tank.

3. In an incubator, the combination of a water tank having a rigidconcave wall curved to conform to the curvature of an egg and disposedin a downwardly inclined position, means for supporting an egg with itsupper portion in contact with said curved surface of the tank, a porouscovering for protecting the egg against drafts and allowing ventilation,and a heating means for the tank.

4. In an incubator, the combination of a water tank having a rigidconcavewall curved to conform to the curvature of an egg and disposed ina downwardly inclined position, a downwardly inclined egg supportingtray arranged opposite said curved wall of the tank and adapted to causethe eggs supported by it to gravitate toward and contact with saidcurved wall oi": the tank, a porous covering for protecting the eggsagainst drafts and allowing ventilation, and a heating means for thetank.

5. In an incubator, the combination of a hot water tank havingdownwardly and in wardly converging concave walls curved transversely toconform to the shape of eggs, a heating means for the tank, and meanssupporting eggs on opposite sides oi": the tank and in contact with saidcurved Walls.

6. In an incubator, the combination of a water tank having downwardlyand in wardly converging, transversely curved con cave walls, means forsupporting the tank in a horizontal position, a vertical flue extendingcentrally through the tank, oppositely projecting branch fines arrangedlongitudinally in the tank, a heater to discharge in said centralupright flue, a damper for controlling the passage of heat through saidcentral upright flue, downwardly and inwardly inclined egg supportingmeans on opposite sides of the tank whereby eggs upon the same willgravitate downwardly toward and contact with the curved walls of thetank, and porous ventilating and protecting covers for the eggs on saidsupporting means.

7. In an incubator, the combination of a water tank having downwardlyand in wardly converging, transversely curved concavewalls, means forsupporting the tank in a horizontal position, a vertical flue extendingcentrally through the tank, oppositely projecting branch flues arrangedlongitudinally in the tank, a heater to discharge in said centralupright flue, a damper for controlling the passage of heat through saidcentral upright fiue, downwardly and inwardly inclined supports arrangedbe-' neath and on opposite sides of the tank, egg trays on the lastmentioned inclined sup ports whereby eggs of different sizes in saidtrays will gravitate downwardly and contact with the curved walls of thetank, and porous ventilating and protecting covers for the eggs in saidtrays.

8. In an incubator, the combination of a hot water tank havingdownwardly and inwardly converging, transversely curved concave walls,means for supporting the tank in a horizontal position, a vertical flueextending centrally through the tank, oppositely projecting branch finesarranged longitudinally in the tank and projecting through its ends, aheater to discharge into said central upright flue, a. damper forcontrolling the heat passing through said flue, a thermostatic devicefor operating said damper, said tank having its bottom lower at itscenter than at its ends to insure circulation of water therein, andmeans for supporting eggs on opposite sides of the tank and in contactwith its curved surfaces.

9. In an incubator, the combination of a water tank of substantiallytriangular shape in cross section having downwardly and inwardlyinclined concave side walls curved transversely, the bottom of said tankhaving its lowest point at its center, a centrally arranged upright fluein the center of said tank, means for supporting said tank in ahorizontal position, and means for supporting eggs against the curvedside walls of said tank.

10. In an incubator, the combination of a hot water tank of triangularshape in cross section and having its downwardly and inwardly inclinedconcave side walls curved transversely, means for supporting said tankin a horizontal position and means for supporting eggs against thecurved side walls of said tank.

11. In an incubator, the combination of a hot water tank of triangularshape in cross section and having its side walls concaved and inclineddownwardly and inwardly, and means for supporting eggs against said sidewalls of the tank.

12. In an incubator, the combination of a hot water tank having adownwardly inclined concave side wall and a downwardly inclined eggsupport arranged to oppose said side wall whereby eggs upon said supportwill. gravitate toward and contact with said wall.

13. In an incubator, the combination of a hot water tank ofsubstantially triangular shape in cross section, uprights for supportingthe tank in a horizontal position and forming the end walls of the tank,and means carried by said end supports for supporting eggs against theside walls of the tank.

14. In an incubator, the combination of a horizontally disposed watertank of substantially triangular shape in cross section and having itsside walls inclined downwardly and inwardly and concaved to conform tothe curvature of an egg, means for supporting said tank, means forheating said tank, and means for supporting against the opposite sidesof said tank whereby the upper portions of the eggs will engage theconcaved side walls of the tank.

15. In an incubator, the combination with a horizontally disposed watertank of triangular shape in cross section and having its two side wallsinclined downwardly and inwardly and concaved to conform to thecurvature of an egg, said side walls being also inclined in an upwardlongitudinal direction from the center to the opposite ends of the tank,end supports for the tank, a horizontal support disposed beneath thetank and having inwardly and downwardly extending inclines, egg traysarranged on said inclines whereby the eggs therein will be held incontact with the concaved side walls of the tank, porous coveringsbetween the side edges of said horizontal support and the upper edges ofthe tank, a smoke flue extending vertically through the center of thetank, a thermostatically controlled damper for the top of said fine, andbranch fines extending from the smoke flue and projecting longitudinallythrough the tank.

16. In an incubator, the combination of a horizontally disposed watertank of sub stantially triangular shape in cross section and having itsside walls inclined downwardly and inwardly, end uprights for supportingthe tank, a horizontalmember arranged beneath the tank and united tosaid uprights, brackets on said member and having downwardly andinwardly inclined upper edges, egg supporting trays on said inclinededges of the brackets, and means for heating said tank.

17. In an incubator, the combination of a horizontally disposed watertank of substantially triangular shape in cross section and having itsside walls inclined downwardly and inwardly, end uprights for supportingthe tank, a horizontal member arranged beneath the tank and united tosaid uprights, means on said member for supporting eggs in contact withthe side walls of the tank, means for heating the tank, longitudinalguides on the side edges of said member and the upper edges of the tank,

and open slides engaged with said guides and having porous coverings forprotecting the eggs.

18. In an incubator, the combination of a heated tank having a wallinclined down wall, a fiat egg support arranged in a down- I wardlyinclined position and in converging relation with respect to theinclined wall of the tank, whereby the egg will gravitate toward thetank and its upper portion will contact with said inclined wall of thetank, and a porous covering for protecting the egg against drafts.

20. In an incubator, the combination of a heated tank having itsopposite side walls provided with downwardly and inwardly inclinedsurfaces, downwardly and inwardly inclined egg supports arranged onopposite sides of the tank and in converging relation with respect tosaid inclined surfaces of the walls of the tank, whereby eggs on saidsupports will gravitate toward the tank and their upper portions willcontact with said inclined surfaces on the walls of the tank, and meansfor protecting the eggs from drafts and permitting ventilation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

CYRUS W. ZIMHER lVitnesses FRANK L. Anson, Eva M. TAYLOR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. O.

